Scoring six touchdowns on the road in a playoff match, especially after three decades of waiting, naturally comes with plenty of standout moments. The Commanders’ 45-31 victory over the top-seeded Detroit Lions, which booked them a spot in next Sunday’s NFC championship game, delivered several of those highlights. These four moments stood out the most.
Instead of taking a conservative approach, Commanders Coach Dan Quinn relied heavily on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and kept pressing throughout the match. One example came during the fourth quarter, when Washington faced a fourth-and-two at Detroit’s 13-yard line.
The Commanders had a 10-point lead at that point, and many coaches might have gone for a field goal from that range. Quinn, however, instructed Daniels to stay on the field. Daniels threw a pass to wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who picked up 12 yards. On the next play, Jeremy McNichols finished the drive with a touchdown, giving Washington a strong edge.
They attempted four fourth-down conversions in total and successfully converted three of them. That kind of confidence looks more calculated than risky when the quarterback executing those plays brings the type of calmness and decision-making Daniels has already displayed. He also showed balance between running and passing throughout the game.
Martin’s Pick-Six Shakes Detroit
Among all the defensive plays, the interception by safety Quan Martin stood tallest. He caught a pass from Lions quarterback Jared Goff and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. The effort saw him maneuver around several Detroit players before reaching the end zone.
The interception gave the Commanders a momentum boost they would ride to a memorable win. Goff, who took a heavy hit during the return, had to leave the field briefly to get evaluated for a possible concussion. Though he came back in the second half, he struggled to find rhythm for the rest of the game.
Rookie Snags Two Crucial Picks
Mike Sainristil, another first-year player for Washington, came up with two interceptions that helped seal the victory. His second came during the final quarter and was especially critical because Detroit was still within reach, trailing by just 10 points.
The Lions tried to catch Washington off guard with a trick play. Wide receiver Jameson Williams attempted a pass on an option play, but instead of finding a teammate, the ball landed in Sainristil’s hands. Earlier, before halftime, Sainristil had already made a big defensive play by intercepting a pass in Washington’s end zone, cutting off a strong Detroit drive.
McLaurin Delivers a Breakaway Moment
Detroit had just taken the lead again during the first half when Terry McLaurin answered with a game-changing play. On a first-down snap, he caught a screen pass behind the line, burst through two defenders, slipped out of another tackle, and kept his balance along the sideline to complete a 58-yard touchdown.
That single play flipped the momentum and gave Washington a lead they never gave back. While Daniels played with confidence, he wasn’t the only one making plays. McLaurin ended the game with 87 yards from four receptions.
Dyami Brown contributed with 98 yards on six catches, while Austin Ekeler made valuable contributions both running the ball and catching out of the backfield. The whole team rallied behind their rookie quarterback to earn a long-awaited and hard-fought playoff road win.
